Big-city moments

Macy’s State Street Chicago (pictured)The former Marshall Field’s store still shines with holiday magic, complete with trumpets mounted on the building, themed holiday windows that tell a story and the towering Christmas tree in the Walnut Room, where families decked in finery gather for classy comfort foods. (312) 781-4483; visitmacyschicago.com

Meadow Brook Hall Holiday WalkRochester, Michigan A Currier and Ives-style display enthralls Detroiters who make the 30-mile drive to gawk at the opulence in this 110-room home. Every inch seems to be garlanded, baubled and illuminated, all of it a backdrop to teas and progressive dinners. See it from November 28 to December 23, 2013; admission charged. (248) 364-6200; meadowbrookhall.org

More big-city moments

Country Club Plaza LightsKansas City, Missouri For generations, Kansas Citians have gathered on Thanksgiving night to watch the holiday lights flick on, a decorating touch that lends even more romance to the beautiful Spanish-inspired architecture in this 15-block mecca of shopping and dining. (816) 753-0100; countryclubplaza.com

Christmas at Union StationOmaha A 65-foot ceiling crowns the city’s biggest Christmas tree, adding to the wow factor of the Durham Museum. A tree lighting, concerts and nights with Santa all rock a festive feel, but our favorite: the Ethnic Holiday Festival, which draws a multicultural array of visitors and celebrates traditions from around the world. (402) 444-5071; durhammuseum.org

Small-town festivities

Christmas at the CapitolPierre, South Dakota (pictured) Even a holiday-hating Grinch would become a wide-eyed softie after seeing the 100-year-old capitol in its incarnation as a monthlong indoor forest of more than 100 trees decked by community groups. And that doesn’t even count a lighted parade and a day when politicians serve pie. (800) 962-2034; pierre.org

Candlelight WalkMedina, Ohio The home of Root Candles burns bright the weekend before Thanksgiving when more than 1,300 luminarias glow in the Public Square (35 miles southwest of Cleveland). A bandstand holds a grand Christmas tree, and horses pulling carriages clip-clop through town. (330) 952-0910; mainstreetmedina.com

Lucia NightsBishop Hill, Illinois In an old blacksmith shop, a simple carol sung in Swedish tugs at heartstrings during this annual celebration (December 12–13, 2014), 35 miles southeast of the Quad Cities. Lucias (girls clad in white robes, red sashes and crowns of candles) serve coffee and cookies to visitors eager to learn about the little Utopian community’s Swedish heritage from storeowners, artists and musicians. (309) 927-3899; bishophill.com

More small-town festivities

Christmas in Brown CountyNashville, Indiana (pictured) For three weekends after Thanksgiving, shopping reigns in this hamlet, long a haven for artists inspired by the wooded hills 45 miles south of Indianapolis. One-of-a-kind gifts await at Acorn Cottage Gallery, Bathology and Madeline’s French Country Shop; Story Inn hosts a candlelit Victorian dinner accompanied by carols on a piano. (800) 753-3255; browncounty.com

Dickens Village FestivalGarrison, North Dakota Visitors don’t mind that Charles Dickens never stepped foot in North Dakota: They’re here for the performances of A Christmas Carol, the fruitcake toss, high tea and double-decker bus rides to Fort Stevenson. On the three weekends after Thanksgiving, street vendors also sell chicken dumpling soup. (800) 799-4242; dickensfestival.com

Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas ParadeLawrence, Kansas Costumed horseback riders and more than 70 beautifully restored horse-drawn carriages roll down Massachusetts Street every year on the first Saturday of December. A Festival of Trees and Gingerbread House Festival round out the holiday fun. (785) 856-3040; lawrencechristmasparade.org

Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas WeekendManistee, Michigan In this onetime lumber boomtown, a 1901-themed parade ends with Percherons pulling a huge evergreen tree. Strolling carolers, roasted chestnuts, a show and open houses help round out the Victorian event (December 4–7, 2014). (231) 398-9355; visitmanistee.com

Fort Robinson Annual Historical Christmas DinnerCrawford, Nebraska Tickets for the popular feast, this year a re-creation of the soldiers’ 1933 Christmas meal, sell out fast (on sale November 3). But this excellent state park in Nebraska’s panhandle rewards the 200 ticket holders on December 6 with hospitality, history and plenty of good family-style food. (308) 665-2900; outdoornebraska.org

Resorts that do it right

The Osthoff Resort Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (pictured) A 10-day Old World Christmas Market, cookie and cupcake decorating workshops, brunch with St. Nicholas and hayrides with caroling combine to create a perfect living Christmas card (72 miles northeast of Madison). (855) 203-8592; osthoff.com

More resorts that do it right

French Lick/West Baden Southern Indiana (pictured) These two beautifully restored Gilded Age beauties shine at Christmas. A grand scale touches every holiday activity, from Thanksgiving dinner under the West Baden Hotel’s huge domed atrium to an arts fair, breakfasts with Santa, strolling Dickens characters, caroling and a huge gingerbread house at the French Lick Resort. (888) 936-9360; frenchlick.com

Amazing light displays

Wildlights at Columbus ZooColumbus, Ohio More than 3 million LED lights shine at the home of animal expert Jack Hanna (November 17, 2014–January 4, 2015). Every half hour, a choreographed display of lights and music bursts over Conservation Lake. Admission charged. (800) 666-5397; columbuszoo.org

National Shrine of Our Lady of the SnowsBelleville, Illinois Twinkling with more than 1 million lights, the breathtaking displays just east of St. Louis beautifully reveal the story of Christ’s birth, a lovely alternative to fun but secular holiday displays. Free. (618) 397-6700; wayoflights.org